19 Sep 2016

Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Oluranti Adebule at the 3rd quarterly stakeholders’ forum of private schools owners held at the Secretariat, Alausa in Ikeja, today said the State Government is ready to shutdown 10,444 unregistered private schools which littered the state.

According to Adebule, it is shocking to discover that out of the 15,000 private schools operating in the state, only 4,556 were registered and vowed to take urgent action.

“Government is not comfortable with our discovery that over 15,000 private schools are operating in the State and only just 4,556 are approved and registered; Let me state it clearly, henceforth, Lagos State Government will no longer allow private schools that are not duly registered by the Lagos State Ministry of Education to operate in the State, their operation becomes illegal henceforth in the State,” she warned.

A Georgia mother is grieving for her 11-year-old son, whom she says accidentally hanged himself while trying to mimic pranks he had watched on YouTube.

Cantenecia Stokes, of East Point, Georgia, found Aundreis Bass, her eldest child, hanging from a rope inside a closet in his bedroom. She tried to save him, cut the rope and called 911.

But the boy died last week, four days after his mother found him. She says he had been watching prank videos on YouTube about hanging.Aundreis tried to untie himself but didn't know how to take the rope off, according to his mother. The three children were the ones who told her their brother wasn't breathing, Stokes said. She ran to the scene and tried to rescue her son.

But he wasn't responding and died four days later at a children's hospital in Atlanta.

A twenty-five year-old man, Matthew Iyede, has been stabbed to death by three friends over an alleged disagreement over a girlfriend at Eku, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.

It was gathered that the incident occurred on Sunday morning at a popular drinking bar, Blue Sea Restaurant and Bar, in Eku, near Delta State University Abraka.

Eyewitnesses told Punch that the victim died immediately, following multiple stabs he sustained on his chest.

It was learnt that the late Matthew was ambushed by armed youths alleged to have been led by one Ese Uku. Ese was alleged to have warned the victim to steer clear of the girl whom Matthew had reportedly been dating for long.

The victim’s relative, Victor Iyede, confirmed the incident to Punch on the phone. Victor claimed that his brother was killed over a girl he had been dating.

Victor said, “Matthew was stabbed at a plaza closer to Eku Town hall. He was stabbed over a girl. Those involved are at large. Their names have been submitted to the police.”

The spokesman of the Delta State Police Commander, SP Celestina Kalu, confirmed the incident when contacted. She said two of the suspects had been arrested by the police in Abraka.

“The vigilante group, in collaboration with the Police, arrested two suspects in respect of the case. The names of the suspects are Kevwe Edward (21 years old) and Lucky Grant (19 years old). The suspects will be transferred to SCIIDC for discreet investigation and diligent prosecution,” Kalu said.

She added that Matthew’s corpse has been deposited at the Eku General hospital pending further investigation by the police.

The ISL-affiliated news agency Amaq says one of the group’s followers carried out the stabbing attack that wounded at least eight people at a shopping mall in the US state of Minnesota on Saturday.

"The executor of the stabbing attacks in Minnesota yesterday was a soldier of Islamic State and carried out the operation in response to calls to target the citizens of the countries belonging to the crusader coalition", Amaq said in a statement.

The authorities say a man wearing a private security uniform and armed with at least one knife stabbed eight people at a St. Cloud mall before he was shot dead by an off-duty police officer. All eight victims from the attack were treated at a hospital for wounds that weren't life-threatening and all but one were later released.

The attacker has been identified as as a 22-year-old college student. The man's father identified as Dahir Adan, who is a Somali, says in an interview with the Star Tribune that his son came to the U.S. 15 years ago and was a student at St. Cloud Technical and Community College. He said he had "no suspicion" that his son might have been involved in terrorist activity.

Leader of the Somali community in central Minnesota have condemned the attack. They held a news conference on Sunday and said the suspect does not represent the larger Somali community.

Authorities haven't publicly identified the attacker. FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Rick Thornton said on Sunday that authorities are still digging into the suspect's background to determine his possible motivation.

St. Cloud's mayor and police chief praised the swift actions of the off-duty Avon police officer for shooting and killing the attacker. The part-time officer identified as Officer Jason Falconer is being hailed as a hero. He told Minneapolis Star Tribune that he's "been trying to stay away from it all, for the time being" Falconer said he wasn't hurt and declined to talk further, citing the ongoing investigation.

Words have reached us about all the atrocities going on in the Christ Embassy Church Ministry. Recently, in a meeting that Pastor Chris had with his partners, he said many Christians are influenced by the devil. Does that mean that he is also influenced by the devil, when he keeps so many concubines everywhere, which was the major cause of his divorce to his estranged wife.

Someone left a comment on his ex wife Pastor Anita Ebodaghe's blog advising her to be understanding to him having concubines because so many prophets in the Old Testament had them, how shameless! This must be evil influence also as he claims.

This so called Pastor keeps so many mistresses. It has become a plague in his church because both the married and unmarried pastors are practicing the same act, leaving church members of the brainwashed Ministry baffled and appalled.

Furthermore, according to the staff at the Oregun branch in Ikeja, people in the ministry will go any length to support this act and its disheartening to say the least because its become the norm. Shame on this ungodly practice in the house of God.

We will not relent to expose these so called pastors and put them all to shame.

Meet the sister of Reverend Chris Oyakhilome, so called Pastor Linda Okocha who says that people are smelling if they don't participate in church. She is extremely arrogant and constantly directs her teaching in such derogatory ways.

The staff of the Lagos branch in Oregun in Ikeja, who didn't want to be named, also informed us that the brethren in the CE church branch in the UK, where she was recently posted to from Canada and which was formally Pastor Anita's (Chris Oyakhilome's ex wife) branch are seriously complaining about her teaching method. They revealed her teaching is totally off point and absurd.

We will expose more about this brainwashed so called Ministry... another photo of her below.

A man allegedly assaulted an 85-year-old woman in Delta state on September 15, biting off the tip of her finger in the process. The person who sent in these photos claims the Police is currently searching for him. He said:

"A young man, Ohoh Iriferi from Eku, Delta state, beat up an 85 year old grandmother at her home in Eku. He ran away to Warri after Youths started searching for him. We are still on the look for him and the matter has also reported to the police."

Toke Makinwa is on the cover of the first edition of Fame Extra Magazine, and in this new feature she tells it all. Toke has opened up about dating again and how hard it has been for her. Do enjoy!

Misconceptions about marriage; People are not honest enough! You are told to keep quiet about everything like showing a sign of ‘all is not well’ automatically means you have a bad marriage. The thing is, everyone struggles, no situation is perfect and if people walked around with a little bit of honesty about their situation, a lot of marriages might survive. Religion is also a very big problem, God is involved in Marriage and he has also blessed us with the capacity to think and make decisions for ourselves so people need to be less religious and more aware of His love. There will be way less judgement. So much goes on in a home and you are told to keep mute, keep taking, pray till your knees get dark from kneeling (which is a good thing, don’t get me wrong), but a lot of people lose who they are trying to keep with all of these mandates that doesn’t always work. I am not saying you should go around telling everyone your business but I feel if we had more people open up about their struggles and a society that is less judgmental, people will begin to appreciate the beauty of seeing two people work at staying together and realising the sheer amount of work required on both sides. Continue...

Dating again: Yes, and I am having a lot of fun right now.

On being single: It’s tricky! It’s exactly like learning to ride a bike again but I think I am doing very well. Laughs. Of course you get the initial stumble and fall off but the key is to accept that things are different now and that’s ok. My first date after my separation, I cried on my way home as I couldn’t believe I was back dating again, the stress and joys of getting to know someone again, the excruciating pain of the past and the will to trust another again.

The most absurd thing she has read: That I had a child I was hiding. It was so silly but yeah, that was funny.

Handling controversies: I just don’t meddle too much in what is being said or how it is being analysed… I simply keep it moving. God has been so incredible in my career and before I started, he told me. “You will hold your peace and I will fight for you”. He has not failed me yet. I just pray about the situation and remind him always that as a servant looks up to his master and a maid servant to her mistress; my eyes are on him (GOD).

Speaking on plastic surgery: Hmm… I am not against it, I feel like it’s a comfort thing, I have seen people struggle with those things that they are insecure about and once they get something done, they become different people. They are more confident, and if it rocks their boats, why not? I never judge another’s decision as I haven’t walked a quarter of a mile in their shoes so whatever makes you happy, whatever helps you sleep well at night…. Knock yourself out.

An explosion has taken place at a New Jersey train station while authorities are at the scene investigating reports of a suspicious package.

The station, in Elizabeth, New Jersey, was evacuated alongside businesses in the surrounding area. One eyewitness described the blast as "thunderous", but there have been no injuries.

A bomb squad robot was at the scene when the blast took place, however authorities have confirmed that it was not a controlled explosion.Chris Bollwage, the Mayor of Elizabeth, confirmed that the suspicious package contained "an explosive device" and "could have hurt a lot of people". The device is understood to have been found in a bin at the station.

The incident comes as FBI agents are questioning five people over the explosion that injured 29 people in New York at the weekend.

A widower with five children, Uwem Nnah, from Ikot Ekpene, who was allegedly mistreated and abused by relatives, said there were moments he thought of ending his life.

But a kind gesture from Mrs Martha Udom Emmanuel, wife of the Akwa Ibom State Governor, has given him a reason to be happy once again. Mr. Uwem is now a proud owner of a well furnished two bedroom bungalow, courtesy of the first lady of the state.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has traced mansions worth N1.5billion to former Special Adviser to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on Domestic Affairs, Waripamowei Dudafa.

As part of investigations into alleged case of money laundering, EFCC discovered some properties, which Dudafa had not been able to explain where he got the money to buy them.The commission discovered a mansion in the Agungi area of the Lekki-Epe Expressway, allegedly belonging to Dudafa, said to be worth over N300m.

The graft agency also traced a plot of land around the Chevron Estate off the Lekki-Epe Expressway and a twin duplex within the same area said to belong to Dudafa.

Apart from the Lagos properties, an edifice in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, was also traced to Dudafa.

A source in the EFCC told Punch that, “When we are probing a person, we usually investigate his lifestyle and see if he or she is living above his means. Since Dudafa has already been arraigned for money laundering, we decided to launch further investigations into his lifestyle.

“We found a white mansion in the Agungi area of Lagos, very close to Lekki. He has about four exotic cars in the compound. We did not seal it off because people live there. So, we just placed a sticker on the fence to indicate that the property is a subject of investigation.

“Dudafa also has a twin duplex around the Chevron Estate. We did not seal it off because he has rented the property out. However, he has a parcel of land around the place, which we have sealed off.

“We have arraigned Dudafa and if he is found guilty, he will forfeit the properties.”

Dudafa first became a subject of EFCC investigation when a former Aide-de-Camp to Jonathan, Col. Ojogbane Adegbe (retd.), told detectives that he handed over N10bn (converted to foreign currency) to Dudafa on the eve of the 2014 Peoples Democratic Party presidential primary in which Jonathan was the sole aspirant.

The money given to Dudafa was allegedly used in bribing PDP delegates.

The money was allegedly diverted by the Office of the National Security Adviser under Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) from a Signature Bonus Account in the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Bovi got married 7 years ago with nothing, to a loving wife. 7 years later he's got a house in Lekki, the same Lekki that some of those you see as "rich" are still living as tenant for years. Smiles!

Read how his beautiful wife captured their experience:

'Oh how I love #throwbackpictures 😍😍😍 ..... #7years together and I have never had a reason to regret accepting to be your wife. You chased me with every word, every conviction, every dream, but shi shi you did not have 😂😂.

Oh I remember your first car, a cherry QQ it was smaller than a picanto, and the uncompleted bunker where we started life together with our first baby 😍😍 I look back now and smile giving God all the glory, I am so glad I was a part of your life at the time.

All you had to give were your words, your love & your dreams, I saw a young wise man ( Ecc 4:13) with so much vision & potentials. Thank God 🙏🏾 I never doubted you for a minute, even though most of them seemed unrealistic at the time.

(Of cos now I can say the truth 😂) You have never settled for less no matter the situation.....At the age of 20 I, prayed to God to give me a husband just like my Father #PeterAsimonye. A sweet caring man who cared not just for himself, but for people (that is you @officialbovi) Always wanting to be happy & making everyone you come across happy. Even though the world laughed at us well, the small world we lived in, we didn't care.

We were happy and that's all that mattered to us, to me especially. And from the day we both said "I DO" it's been blessings upon blessings!! I celebrate you today my sweet love, you have not just pulled your weight, you have pulled mine as well. As imperfect as we both are, you have been an awesome husband & father to our kids.... A selfless man. If I were to choose all over again, I would choose you just because you are YOU..... & YOU are irreplaceable.

Thank you mummy #DrmagaretUgboma for raising a man worthy to be called a husband & father. I love you forever my lover & friend 🤗 #happyanniversarytous #youngandinlove #humbleBeginnings"

Twelve months after the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission pledged to give the nation reviewed salaries and allowances for political office holders, key government officials still cart home about N9.18bn annually in salaries and allowances.

Investigation show that while RMAFC had completed work on the review of the emoluments of political office holders since November 2015, the new emoluments have not seen the light of the day due to the politics involved in the process. They are still collecting fat salaries.As a result, key political office holders still earn the full packages they earned before the decision to reduce the earnings of political and judicial office holders.

According to The Punch, the annualised salary and allowances of the president is N14,058,820, while that of the vice-president is N12,126,290.

President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo had announced their decision to take only 50 per cent of the salary and allowances approved for them, meaning that they take home N7,029,410 and N6,063,145 respectively.

However, most allowances and entitlements of the President and Vice-President are not monetised but fully provided by the state.

Apart from salary, the regular allowances that are monetised for the President are only hardship allowance, N1,757,350.50 per annum; and consistency allowance, N8,786,762.50 per annum.

For the Vice-President, the hardship allowance is N1,515,786.25 per annum, while the consistency allowance is N7,578,931.25 per annum.

The irregular allowances for the President are the severance allowance – 300 per cent of the annual salary or N10,544,115 – and leave allowance – 10 per cent of the annual salary or N351,470.50.

The irregular allowances of the Vice-President are the severance allowance – 300 per cent of the annual salary or N9, 094,717.50 – and leave allowance – 10 per cent of the annual salary or N303,157.25.

Other allowances that the President and the Vice-President are supposed to enjoy which are not provided in monetary terms include motor vehicle fuelling and maintenance, special assistants, and personal assistants.

For a senator, the salary and allowances add up to N20,669,280 per annum. Those of a member of the House of Representatives add up to N17,271,347.75.

There are 109 senators and 360 representatives. With the exception of the Senate President, the Deputy Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and his deputy whose allowances are provided by the state, lawmakers get a total of N8,397,965,454.5.

For a minister, the salary and allowances add up to N14,705,164 while those of presidential aide add up to N14,085,843.75. The Head of Service and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation are on the same salaries and allowances.

There are 36 ministers and 15 presidential aides. Their annual emoluments add up to N770,083,888.25.

RMAFC had in June 2015 set in motion the process for the downward review of the existing salaries and allowances of political, public and judicial office holders when it set up a committee chaired by Mr. Abdullahi Inde.

At the inauguration, returning Chairman of RMAFC, Mr. Elias Mbam, had urged the committee to be conscious of the prevailing economic situation and the need to reduce cost of governance so as to free more funds for development.

The current remuneration of public office holders is guided by the Remuneration Act of 2008. A review became imperative following dwindling government revenues occasioned by falling prices in the international oil market.

However, investigation showed that when Mbam left the commission following the completion of his first tenure in November 2015, the acting Chairman of RMAFC, Mr. Umar Gana, made a number of attempts to present the new packages to President Buhari but failed.

“The acting chairman could not get the green light from the Villa to present the remuneration package to the President,” an authoritative source told our correspondent.

“That is why the new salary structure has been stalled. The law requires that the President must get the recommendation from RMAFC who would table it before the Federal Executive Council for ratification. Then, it is presented to the National Assembly.”

The current allowances of lawmakers are in categories. Some are tagged regular allowances while others are tagged irregular allowances.

Regular allowances are those that are paid on monthly basis along with the monthly salaries while irregular allowances are paid at other frequencies ranging from annual to once in four years.

There are also other allowances not included in this calculation that are paid not at any fixed periods but as many times as they occur in the year.

The allowances are calculated as percentages of the annual salaries. While some are higher than the annual salaries; others are lower.

Basically, both senators and Reps are paid the same percentages of their salaries as allowances except in constituency allowance where senators are paid 250 per cent while Reps are 100 per cent.

Vehicle maintenance and fuelling alliance is 75 per cent; domestic staff, 75 per cent; entertainment, 30 per cent; utilities, 30 per cent; wardrobe, 25 per cent; newspapers, 15 per cent; house maintenance, five per cent; and personal assistants, 25 per cent.

The irregular allowances include housing allowance, 200 per cent of their annual salaries; furniture allowance, 300 per cent; recess allowance, 10 per cent and severance allowance, 300 per cent.

Housing allowance is paid once a year. Furniture allowance is paid once in four years and recess allowance is paid when the lawmakers are on recess and they go on recess four times in a year. Severance allowance is at the end of the four-year tenure.

There are other allowances that the lawmakers are not paid directly but provided and paid for by the government. These are special assistants, security and legislative aides. What this means is that those engaged in these capacities are paid directly by the government as the allowances cannot be claimed by political office holders. These allowances apply to senators and Reps.

Medical expenses are also borne by the government when they have need for the services.

The lawmakers are also entitled to tour duty allowance, estacode (when they travel).For a senator, the tour duty allowance is N37, 000 per night; the estacode is $950 per night.

For a member of the House of Representatives, the tour duty allowance is N35, 000 per night; while estacode is $900 per night.

Ministers and presidential aides also enjoy similar allowances.

However, experts are not worried by the official earnings of political office holders but the unofficial ones. Lawmakers, for instance, are said to get some huge quarterly payment.

The Nigerian military has rescued 43 abducted persons and recovered 500 cows from fleeing Boko Haram terrorists in Mafa.

The military operation for the mission occurred Sunday morning after eight suspected Boko Haram terrorists abducted some cattle rearers and livestock at gunpoint at Dalakalari general area, Mafa Local Government Area.

Some well meaning people informed the military who swung into action and pursued the terrorists.

The terrorists, sensing danger, ran and abandoned the livestock just before Panamri village.The troops were able to rescue 43 persons and 500 cows taken by the terrorists.

The victims and the recovered cows have been handed over to the local authorities.

Latifat Adeyemi, who was allegedly battered by her uncle-in-law, Rasak Alabi, at Aga, Ikorodu, has cried out for justice.

Last Friday Alabi allegedly hit the victim with a spanner on her head and face. The picture of the injured woman went viral on social media after a family friend Francis Ibirinde shared it on his Facebook wall.

In a telephone interview with a Nation Correspondent, Adeyemi said her aunt’s husband attacked her at their 3, Ile-Ewe, Sholebo family residence at Aga, Ikorodu.

The makeup artist explained that trouble started after she got home on Friday night and discovered that the Air Conditioner in her room has been removed.

“I was surprised and angry that the AC in my room at our family house was removed by my aunt’s husband. His wife stays abroad. The house belongs to my grandparents but because his wife renovated it, he has been staying there ever since they resolved their marital problems.

“So, that day I got back from work and realised that my AC has been removed. I was angry. I picked my phone and called my sister, telling her that I have had it. That I don’t think I can continue staying in the house. I was still outside talking to my sister on phone, when the man from nowhere, hit me with spanner from behind.

“He said I was making noise. That was how he continued hitting me with the iron. I was bleeding but he didn’t care. When he was satisfied, he went inside.

“I had to call my parents and uncles before going to Ebute Police Sation to make an entry. At the station, the policemen asked me to go to the hospital and treat myself first that I was bleeding seriously. But I didn’t go straight to the hospital. I went back to the house to provoke the man so that he can come out but he did not. Then, I left for the hospital,” she said.

Continuing, Adeyemi said policemen later went there to invite him for questioning but he refused to answer them. Rather, she said, the man went to Igbogbo police station to make another entry and took some men to her uncle’s house to arrest him.

“He took vigilante members (Onyabo) to my uncle’s place because my uncle was against him. But when the vigilante boys took my uncle away, some people who knew him quickly contacted their boss and told him what happened. My uncle was released. But he went and got policemen from another station to arrest him, despite that our case was already at Ebute police station. My uncle was arrested and detained at the station till the following morning when other family members came.

“I was on admission at the hospital and they had a family meeting and he said it was temptation. My bill was over N70,000. I was told he came to the hospital and paid the bills but he never bothered to check on me to see what he caused. Even the doctors told him to visit me and apologise but he refused. They said he paid the bill and left.

“His wife too has not bothered to call me to find out what happened. I really cannot say if there was any problem between us. I don’t know. But the action was very surprising and I don’t think I want him to go free after what he did to me.”

The victim who was at the Public Advice Centre (PAC), Ministry of Justice, Alausa on Friday, said she was determined to get justice for the unprovoked attack on her.

She said: “The man has refused me access to get my things. My clothes and other belongings are still inside the house. For three days after the assault, I wore the same dress. I want justice. The police have not been able to arrest him, I don’t know why. So, I have gone to the Ministry of Justice so that the government can look into the matter.”

The kidnappers of four residents of Lekki Gardens in Isheri, a border community between Lagos and Ogun states, weekend, demanded N1.2 billion ransom for their release.

Vanguard gathered that they made contacts with family members of the victims, suspected to be held hostage in the creeks, yesterday.

The victims, Mr. Kennedy Ucheagwu, Dr. Omololu, Bello and Mr. Esang, said to be landlords at Oshorun Heritage Estate, had gone for an aerobic section, Saturday, when eight masked gunmen in military camouflage intercepted them, shooting sporadically.

While others managed to escape, same could not be said for the victims, as they were whisked away in boats through the waterways.One of the relatives of the abducted men, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Vanguard yesterday: “I got a call very early yesterday, where the unknown caller informed that he was one of the kidnappers that took our people away on Saturday.

“He warned that in our interest and for the safety of the victims, we should not contact the police or try to play smart.

“He said anything of such would lead to the death of our people. He did not allow me to speak with my person, as he claimed that he was sleeping.

“He said that we should get N1.2 billion before they would be released. He also told me to meet with relatives of the other people. He called back about four hours later to find out if the money was ready.

“He also asked if I had my own N300 million for the release my relation. I begged him to accept N200,000, as that was the only money we could afford, except he wants us to go and start borrowing or sell our property.

“But the line went dead at that point. Where do we get that kind of money at this time? My worry is that my relative is hypertensive.”

Meanwhile, Assistant Inspector-General of Police in-charge of Zone 2 Command, Lagos, Abdulmajid Ali, has deployed a Tactical Rescue Team to rescue the victims.

Alli explained that the team comprised police operatives and ICT experts from the Lagos and Ogun states commands, as well as those from the Force headquarters, Abuja. The team, according to Ali, who condemned the act, had been directed to rescue the victims unhurt as well as arrest perpetrators of the act.

He assured the affected relatives and residents of the area of timely and successful rescue operation, adding that police had clues.

Ali also appealed to relations of the victims to support police with useful information that would enhance the rescue operation, adding that he was working with the Commissioners of Police in Lagos and Ogun states and other stakeholders to ensure the rescue of the victims and to sustain the fight against crimes within the commands.